Germany Deports 20 Afghan Convicts under Taliban Deal

Germany has deported 20 convicted Afghan nationals under a newly concluded agreement with the Taliban authorities that enables direct repatriation flights, the Interior Ministry confirmed Thursday.

The deportations mark a further tightening of Berlin’s migration and security policy. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the latest arrangement establishes a structured framework for sustained and direct removals to Afghanistan.

According to the ministry, all individuals deported were male offenders convicted of crimes in Germany, including sexual offenses and drug-related crimes. Dobrindt stated that public safety requires that convicted criminals leave the country, adding that deportation procedures are being expanded incrementally.

Germany suspended deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. However, Berlin resumed limited removals in 2024 through Qatari mediation. Since then, Germany has carried out two previous deportation flights involving Afghan convicts, 28 individuals in autumn 2024 and 81 in 2025.

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said the current agreement was finalized during technical talks held in autumn 2025 with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities. While Germany does not formally recognize the Taliban government, officials have engaged in operational discussions to facilitate deportations.

The policy shift comes amid broader political pressure over migration and the electoral rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Berlin has sought to demonstrate stricter enforcement measures concerning foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.

The deportations have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that conditions in Afghanistan remain unstable and potentially unsafe for returnees.

At the European level, the European Union has also initiated contacts with Taliban authorities to assess the feasibility of coordinated deportation procedures, as several member states face mounting political pressure over migration policies.